Selective travel draft gear



' y 7, 1957 E. H. BLATTNER 2,791,337

SELECTIVE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR Filed Oct. 8,.1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 8

FIG. 6

FIG. 1

FIG. 5

' Inventor:

Er nil H. Blqttner his Attorney May 7, 1957 E. H. BLATTNER SELECTIVE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR 2 Shoeits+$heet 2 Filed Oct. 8, 1953 m wHm.

w 6TH Inventor: Emil H. Blattner By WWW his Attorney United States Patent 655cc 2,791,331 .Fatented May 7, 1957 SELECTIVE TRAVEL DRAFT GEAR Emil H. Blattner, Williamsville, N. Y., assignor to The Symington-Gould tCorporation, Depew, N. Y., a corporation of Maryland Application October 8, 1953, Serial No. 384,876

12 Claims. (Cl. 213-45) This invention relates generally to draft gears and more particularly to selective travel draft gears.

In conventional selective travel draft gears in which a lesser number of cushioning units are used in draft than in buff, it is usual to employ a special yoke for enclosing one of the units so as to limit the action of the coupler in draft to that unit. Such special yokes have particular application to selective travel draft gears of the so-called twin-cushion type in which but one of the two rubber cushioning units is contained within the yoke and acted on by it in draft.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an improved selective travel draft gear having its several cushioning units confinable within a yoke and capable of selective action under buff and draft forces.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved selective travel draft gear having a pair of rubber cushioning units arranged in tandem and adapted to be contained within a standard yoke, wherein one of the units is rendered inactive in draft.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved selective travel draft gear usable with and enclosable by a standard yoke wherein the means by which force is transmitted in buff to the second of the two cushioning units, serves to lock that unit out of action in draft.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selective travel draft gear containable within a standard yoke, wherein selective action of the several cushioning units is obtained without developing slack in the inactive unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved selective draft gear containable within a yoke wherein means are provided for maintaining its rear follower in constant contact with stop lugs fixed to the associated center sills.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved selective travel draft gear of the twin rubber cushion type which is adaptable for use with a standard yoke and for application within a standard draft gear pocket and applied to an interlocking coupler.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter in the detailed description, be particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a "iew partly in plan and partly in longitudinal section, showing a preferred form of the draft gear of the present invention seated in a draft gear pocket and applied to an inetrlocking coupler.

Figure 2 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of the draft gear and associated parts of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the separator disk.

Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of the yoke 2; filler block, rear follower block, spacer element and front follower block, respectively; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view taken on the planes of Figure 2 and showing a modified form of the center follower and yoke filler construction of the preceding figures.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts, the improved selective travel draft gear of the present invention, designated generally as 1, is designed to fit between a pair of center sills 2 within the conventional draft gear pocket 3, the latter being defined longitudinally of the center sills by the front stop or draft lugs 4 and rear stop lugs 5, which may be formed as parts of related castings, the front stop lugs 4 here being shown as integral with a striking casting 6.

Adapted for use with a tightlock coupler such as the illustrated proposed A. A. R. Type F or a non-interlocking coupler, such as the A. A. R. Type Ej whether having a rigid shank or a swivel yoke, the draft gear 1 has been applied, for purposes of illustration, to a proposed A. A. R. Type F coupler 7. Accordingly, there has been shown in the associated draft rigging the usual complement of parts for such couplers, including a springsupported carrier 8 and a universal connection through a pintle 9 and filler lit to a vertical swiveling yoke 11.

Straddled by and contained or included within the yoke 11 is the improved selective travel draft gear of the present invention. In its preferred form the draft gear 1 is comprised of front and rear cushioning units 12and 13, respectively, each formed of rubber spring elements 14 alternating with separating or divider plates 15. Each of the rubber spring elements 14, in turn, is formed of a center plate 16 sandwiched between rubber pads 17, the pads being connected through perforations 18 in the center plate to each other and to the center plate. As usual in such units, the rubber pads 17 are under a predetermined initial compression in the neutral or normal position of the draft gear shown in the drawings.

interposed between the front cushioning unit 12 and the butt 19 of the coupler 7 is a front follower or follower block 29 having a rear face 21 hearing against the front cushioning unit 12. As will be understood, the configuration of the front face 22 of the follower block will vary, depending on the coupler with which the draft gear is employed, the follower block for the illustrated F type coupler being provided with a spherically concave surface 23.

Separating and adapted to transmit buffing forces between the front and rear cushioning units 12 and 13, is a center follower 24- of substantially T-shape, which may be cast as a unit and is formed of a flat block or head 25 and a central rearwardly extending rigid post, column or tail 26, the latter extending longitudinally of the draft gear normal to the head 25 and projecting through central openings or holes 27 in the several plates 15 and 16 of the rear cushioning unit 13, both the post 26 and the openings 27 here being shown as rectangular in crosssection. It will be noted that a separator disk or plate 28 is interposed between the head 25 of the center follower 24 and the rear cushioning unit 13, and that the central opening 29 of this disk is of larger cross-section than the holes 27 in the unit. When, as here, the center follower 24 is cast, the post 26 will normally be larger in crosssection adjacent its junction with the head 25 than elsewhere. The spacer disk 28 is designed to accommodate this construction without necessitating variation in the openings 27 within the cushioning unit.

The rear cushioning unit 13 bears rearwardly against a rear follower block 30 through which it reacts in bud against the rear stop lugs 5. To accommodate a yoke 11 of standard length, when'using the illustrated cushioning means, the rear follower block 30 has a rearwardly directed recess or pocket 31, preferably rectangular in cross-section, the rear follower block, for this purpose, being of rearwardly opening U- or C-shape in horizontal section and having transversely spaced, rearwardly extending or directed legs 32 connected by a web 33, the legs engaging the rear stop lugs 5 and the web the rear cushioning unit 13. Since a draft gear having the disclosed number of spring elements 14 in its cushioning units 12 and 13 has adequate capacity to meet service conditions and a rear follower block whose web 33 were of sufficient thickness to fill the space between the rear cushioning unit 13 and the vertically extending web 34 of the yoke 11, would be of inordinate strength and weight, the space between the web 33 of the follower and that 34 of the yoke is filled by a filler block 35.

It has been mentioned that the draft gear of this invention is of the selective travel type with both of its cushioning units 12 and 13 acting in buff and only one of the units acting in draft. In buff, the force of the coupler applied to the front follower block 20, reacts against the rear stop lugs 5, compressing in series the front and rear cushioning units 12 and 13 through the intervening central follower block 24. On reversal, in draft, the yoke 11, since straddling both cushioning units, would normally pick up both units in reacting against the front stop lugs 4 and nullify selective action of the draft gear. The desired selective action under such circumstances is derived from the rigid center post 26 whose function is to lock out or inactivate the rear draft unit 13 in buff. For the accomplishment of this function the center post 26 slidably extends not only through the holes 27 in the rear cushioning unit 13, but through an aligned slot 36 in the web 33 of the rear follower 30, and bears against the filler block 35. post 26 is inactive since the yoke 11 is then moving rearwardly in correspondence with the movement of the center follower block 24. However, in draft, the yoke is prevented from compressing the rear draft unit by the engagement of the yoke through the filler block 35 with the rear end of the post 26, the post then serving to fix the minimum spacing between the center and rear followers 24 and 30, and therefore the non-compressibility in draft of the rear cushioning unit 13. Although the post is shown as rigid or integral with the center follower block 25, it is evident that it will act as a rigid column to perform its spacer function, whether fixed to the yoke filler block 35 or floating between these blocks, the disclosed T-shaped cast center follower being a convenience in both manufacture and assembly.

An advantage of locking the rear cushioning unit 13 out of action by fixing, holding or maintaining the normal or initial spacing between the center and rear followers 24 and 30, is that the rear unit is always under at least its initial compression and thus restraining lateral shifting of the unit and preventing rattling. Preferably, the rear cushioning unit is also made to serve as a guide for the center post 26 to maintain the post and, through it, the center follower block and rear follower in transverse alignment with the yoke. This may be accomplished by extending the several plates 15 and 16 of the cushioning unit vertically and aperturing them at each end, as at 37, to receive the arms 38 of the yoke 11. On occasion, it will be desirable to design the draft gear so that the rear follower 30 maintains constant contact with the rear stop lugs 5, relying then on the holes and apertures in the plates of the rear cushioning unit and like aperturing of the ends of the spacer disk 28 to hold them and the associated followers in lateral alignment. Such action may readily be obtained by increasing the length of the post 26 and correspondingly decreasing the thickness of the filler block so that the post will normally project or extend rearwardly beyond the central transversely directed web portion 33 of the rear follower In butt, the I 30 a distance sufiicient to accommodate the forward movement in draft of the yoke. This modification is shown in Figure 9.

From the above detailed description it will be apparent that there has been provided an improved draft gear which may be fitted into a standard draft gear pocket and contained within a standard yoke for the type of coupler to which the draft gear is applied, the several cushioning units of the draft gear, although contained within the yoke, acting selectively to afford more cushioning in bulf than in draft, through the provision of means for locking out or rendering inactive the rear cushioning unit under draft forces. It should be understood that the described and disclosed embodiment is merely exemplary of the invention and that all modifications are intended to be included which do not depart either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A selective travel draft gear comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned cushioning units contained within a yoke, means within said yoke and longitudinally spacing said cushioning units, and means connected to said spacing means and normally acting longitudinally against an end of said yoke for limiting the minimum longitudinal spacing between said end and spacing means and rendering inactive a cushioning unit between said end and spacing means on movement of said yoke in one longitudinal direction.

2. A selective travel draft gear comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned cushioning units contained within a yoke, means within said yoke and spacing said cushioning units, and means extending longitudinally through one of said units and between and normally acting against said yoke and spacing means for limiting the minimum longitudinal spacing between said yoke and spacing means and rendering said one cushioning unit inactive on movement of said yoke in one longitudinal direction.

3. A selective travel draft gear comprising front and rear cushioning units contained within a yoke, a rear follower bearing against a rear end of said rear cushioning unit, a center follower within said yoke between said units and longitudinally spaced by said rear unit from said rear follower, and a post fixed to and extending rearwardly of said center follower, said post extending through said rear cushioning unit and rear follower and normally acting longitudinally on said yoke for limiting the minimum longitudinal spacing between said center and rear followers and rendering said rear cushioning unit inactive on forward movement of said yoke.

4. A selective travel draft gear comprising front and rear followers contained within a yoke, front and rear cushioning units longitudinally spacing said followers, a center follower interposed between said cushioning units and longitudinally spaced by said rear unit from said rear follower, and a post integral with and extending rearwardly of said center follower and slidably received in said rear cushioning unit and rear follower, said post acting longitudinally against said yoke for limiting the minimum longitudinal spacing between said center and rear followers on forward movement of said yoke.

5. A selective travel draft gear comprising longitudinally aligned front and rear cushioning units contained longitudinally within a yoke member, a center follower member interposed between said units, a rear follower spaced by said rear unit from said center follower member, and post means fixed for movement forwardly with one of said members and slidably received by said rear cushioning unit and rear follower, said post means extending between and acting against said members for limiting the minimum spacing therebetween and rendering said rear unit inactive on forward movement of said yoke member.

6. A selective travel draft gear fittable in a draft gear pocket between front and rear stop lugs, said draft gear comprising a rear follower engageable with said rear stop lugs, a pair of rubber cushioning units arranged in longitudinal alignment forwardly of said rear follower, a center follower having a head interposed between said front and rear units and an integral post extendable through and slidably received centrally in said rear unit and said rear follower, and a yoke straddling and longitudinally including said cushioning units and followers, said post on forward movement of said yoke acting longitudinally thereagainst for limiting the minimum spacing between said yoke and center follower and locking out said rear unit.

7. A selective travel draft gear comprising a rear follower of rearwardly opening U-shape, front and rear rubber cushioning units disposed forwardly of said rear follower, a follower block interposed between said front and rear units, a post connected to and extending rearwardly of said follower block centrally thereof, said post being slidably received in and extendable through central openings in said rear cushioning unit and rear follower, and a yoke straddling said cushioning units, rear follower block and filler block and normally straddled by said rear follower block, said post on forward movement acting longitudinally against said yoke for limiting the minimum spacing between said yoke and follower block.

8. A selective travel draft gear comprising a rear follower of rearwardly opening U-shape, front and rear rubber cushioning units disposed forwardly of said rear follower, a follower block interposed between said front and rear units, a post connected to and extending rearwardly of said follower block centrally thereof, said post being slidably received in and extendable through central openings in said rear cushioning unit and rear follower, and a yoke straddling said cushioning units, follower block and rear follower, a filler block straddled by said follower block and interposed between said follower block and yoke, said post on forward movement acting longitudinally against said yoke through said filler block for limiting the minimum spacing between said yoke and follower block.

9. A selective travel draft gear comprising front and rear followers, front and rear cushioning units spacing said followers, a center follower block interposed between said cushioning units, a post connected to and extending rearwardly of said follower block and slidably extendable through openings in said rear cushioning unit and rear follower, and a yoke containing said cushioning units, followers, follower block and post and normally acted against by said post, said post on rear ward movement of said yoke sliding rearwardly relative to said rear cushioning unit and rear follower and enabling both of said units to be compressed and on forward movement of said yoke limiting the spacing between said yoke and follower block and inactivating said rear cushioning unit.

10. A selective travel draft gear comprising a rear follower, front and rear cushioning units disposed forwardly of said rear follower, a follower block inte osed between said front and rear units, a yoke containing said units, rear follower and follower block, post means extending longitudinally of said draft gear rearwardly of said follower block and between follower block and yoke, said post being slidably received in aligned openings in said rear cushioning unit and a transversely directed portion of said rear follower and normally extending rearwardly beyond said portion, and said post through said rearward extension permitting said yoke on forward movement to move relative to said rear follower while preventing compression of said rear unit.

11. A selective travel draft gear comprising a plurality of cushioning units arranged in tandem within a yoke, means interposed between and longitudinally spacing said cushioning units, and rigid means extending between and normally acting longitudinally against said spacing means and yoke for limiting the minimum longitudinal spacing therebetween and locking out one of said units on movement of said yoke in one longitudinal direction.

12. A selective travel draft gear comprising a plurality of cushioning units contained within a yoke, means interposed between and longitudinally spacing said units, and means extending longitudinally through one of said units and between and normally spacing said spacing means and yoke for limiting the minimum spacing therebetween and locking out said one unit on movement of said yoke in one longitudinal direction.

Gallagher Nov. 29, 1904 Tucker Oct. 18, 1932 

